Washboard



April 18, 1950 P. FLORES 2,504,819

WASHBOARD Filed Dec. 22, 1944 IN VEN TOR. Pubic Flores Y WW ATTORNE X fiatented Apr. 18, 1950 Bum-Tro- -SVTATES PATENT OFFICE Pablo Flores, New York, N. Y.

Application December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,323

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a washboard.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of a wooden washboard in which there is a one-piece body having a soap retainer cut therein, and having corrugations and drainage grooves formed therein.

Still further, it is proposed to provide a washboard as aforesaid, having means strengthening the board transversely to prevent warping.

Another object is to provide a washboard having the aforesaid one-piece body of wood in which some of the corrugations are formed by dowels partly sunk in the wood body transversely to also afford a support against warping.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washboard constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The washboard, according to this invention,

is formed entirely of wood, which is desirable in times when metal washboards can not be had because of more important need for the metals of which washboards are customarily made, as for instance, in war times. Furthermore, the washboard is so constructed that in appearance and utility, it is the equal of well known types of washboards having wooden frames and metal corrugated scrubbing surfaces.

The washboard ID has a one-piece wooden body ll made from a flat plank of wood. The grain or -the wood in the body Ill runs lengthwise of the body. Thus, the wooden washboard is of very strong inherent structure.

The body H has a. top groove l4 running transversely across its front face IS. The edges of this groove are sharp. The face l5, above the groove l4, and in the center portion of the body, is recessed out to provide a soap holder IS, the bottom of which opens into the groove l4 and is deeper than and inclines upwardly to the top of the holder. Thus the sharp edge of groove 14 at the bottom thereof forms the bottom wall of the soap holder, and serves to support a cake of soap. The portions of groove l4 running outwardly from the soap holder form drains therefor, preventing the accumulation of water in the soap holder which might soften the soap.

The body is successively traversed below the groove M by a row of spaced grooves I! which extend completely from side to side of the front face I5 of the body. Each of the grooves I! has a deep rectangular portion l8, and a diverging mouth formed by beveling the edges of the groove to form inclined portions. The grooves provide corrugations 20 between them, these corrugations being somewhat rounded due to the inclined portions. The corrugations form the scrubbing portions of the washboard, and the grooves I! serve as drain channels and to hold soapy water to aid in the scrubbing operation. The inclined portions prevent cloths from being torn by the scrubbing operation. The washboard is recessed at the bottom to provide two legs 2|.

Between the grooves 41, the washboard II] has its face formed with two spaced transverse circular grooves 23, of more than degrees but less than 360 degrees. Dowels 24 are pressed tightly into the grooves 23. The dowels strengthen the washboard against warping and at the same time provide corrugations 25. A greater number of these dowels may be provided if desired.

The dowels 24 are circular in cross-section and are mounted in the grooves 23 so that portions thereof project beyond the corrugated face of the washboard H), which projecting portions form the additional corrugations 25.

It is to be understood that this washboard may be made of any suitable size and material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A washboard comprising a single-piece wooden body having cut therein a soap holder having a sharp soap supporting bottom edge, and therebeneath a row of spaced grooves providing therebetween corrugations, each of said grooves extending from side to side of said body and having a rectangular bottom and inclined top edges rounding said corrugations, at least two of said corrugations, spaced from each other by at least a plurality of other corrugations being wider than the remaining corrugations and having a circular groove greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees extending from side to side of said body and opening through" the corrugated face thereof, anda dowel, circular'i'n cross' section; in

each of said circular grooves, each of said. dowels completely filling its groove and having a portion extending ,beyond said corrugated face affording an additional corrugation, outwardly of said corrugated'face, said dowels'strengthening said body-against warping. V, W

1 1 ABm manna [REFERENCES CITED 7 file of this patent:

' 'The following references are of record in tl' f Number UNITED STATES PA'I'EN'TS Name Date Campbell Aug. 10, 1880 Cadwell 2 June 29, 1897 Maull -2 Jan. 18, 1910 Schlehr Jan; 2, 191'! Kelly Mar. 6, 1917 Glen Nov. 2, 1933 Gold den m, 1942 Snyder news, 1943 

